“It’s hard to think of a writer who has multiplied the possibilities more times than Roberto Bolaño . . . [Antwerp is] exceptional and moving.” —Nicole Krauss, The Guardian Oft called the “big bang” of Roberto Bolaño’s universe, Antwerp is his first novel—or the shattered remnants of one. Written when he was just twenty-seven years of age, it was so intensely strange and solitary that he tucked it away for more than twenty years, certain that any publisher would slam the door in his face. It proceeds in hallucinatory sketches: a lonely highway, a desolate campground, a freshly abandoned hotel room; a tryst, an interrogation, a murder; and somewhere just out of reach, a young, feverish writer named Roberto Bolaño drifting in and out of view. A radical, sui generis effort by a burgeoning genius, Antwerp is an essential part of Bolaño’s oeuvre.

A revelatory history of Antwerp—from its rise to a world city to its fall in the Spanish Fury—by the New York Times Notable author of The Edge of the World. Before Amsterdam, there was a dazzling North Sea port at the hub of the known world: the city of Antwerp. In the Age of Exploration, Antwerp was sensational like nineteenth-century Paris or twentieth-century New York. It was somewhere anything could happen or at least be believed: killer bankers, easy kisses, a market in secrets and every kind of heresy. For half the sixteenth century, it was the place for breaking rules—religious, sexual, intellectual. And it was a place of change—a single man cornered all the money in the city and reinvented ideas of what money meant. Another gave the city a new shape purely out of his own ambition. Jews fleeing the Portuguese Inquisition needed Antwerp for their escape, thanks to the remarkable woman at the head of the grandest banking family in Europe. Thomas More opened Utopia there, Erasmus puzzled over money and exchanges, William Tyndale sheltered there and smuggled out his Bible in English until he was killed. Pieter Bruegel painted the town as The Tower of Babel. But when Antwerp rebelled with the Dutch against the Spanish and lost, all that glory was buried and its true history rewritten. The city that unsettled so many now became conformist. Mutinous troops burned the city records, trying to erase its true history. In Europe’s Babylon, Michael Pye sets out to rediscover the city that was lost and bring its wilder days to life using every kind of clue: novels, paintings, songs, schoolbooks, letters and the archives of Venice, London and the Medici. He builds a picture of a city haunted by fire, plague, and violence, but one that was learning how to be a power in its own right as it emerged from feudalism. An astounding and original narrative that illuminates this glamorous and bloody era of history and reveals how this fascinating city played its role in making the world modern.

This annual bestseller ranks the hottest, must-visit countries, regions and cities for 2018. Drawing on the knowledge and passion of Lonely Planet's staff, authors and online community, it presents a year's worth of inspiration to take travellers out of the ordinary and into the unforgettable - and firmly sets the travel agenda for the year ahead.

"The Complete Travel Guide" Series offers a comprehensive exploration of diverse destinations worldwide. Each book provides detailed insights into local culture, history, attractions, and practical travel tips, ensuring travellers are well-prepared to embark on memorable journeys. With vibrant illustrations, beautiful pictures and up to date information, this series is an essential companion for any type of traveller seeking enriching experiences.

- This book reveals the 500 most fascinating places in Antwerp, along with extra details that no one knows - Affectionate guide, written by a local journalist who knows the city intimately - Essential for visitors who want to avoid the usual tourist spots, and for residents who are keen to track down the city's best-kept secrets - Revised and updated edition With its perfectly preserved medieval buildings and ancient cobblestone streets, Antwerp might seem content to rest on historic laurels. In fact, Belgium's second-largest city is a vibrant, cosmopolitan place where avant-garde fashion, cutting-edge architecture and progressive cuisine flourish. - New York Post A revised edition in the fabulous 500 Hidden Secrets series, revealing the beauty of the city of Antwerp. Discover the city's best-kept secrets, with this practical guide to Antwerp's finest places. A practical guide to discover Antwerp's finest buildings, restaurants, shops, museums, neighborhoods, parks, hotels, cafés, art, architecture and people. This fanatstic guide will tell you the best places to go for good food, be it lunch, a cheap meal or fine dining as well as where to get the best coffee, the best cocktails and the coolest cafés. It will direct you to the best shops, children's stores, markets, boutiques and tell you where to buy the latest fashions, accessories, shoes and designer-wear. The architecture of Antwerp is not forgotton as the book guides you to the most beautiful buildings, historical landmarks and parks. The 500 hidden secrets of Antwerp are listed thematically: food, drinks, shops, fashion, architecture, art, things to do with children, activities among others.

Make the most of your trip to Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent with DK Eyewitness Top 10. Planning is a breeze with our simple lists of ten, covering the best that Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent offer and ensuring you get all the things. The pocket-friendly format is light and easily portable, the perfect companion while out and about. Inside, you'll find: Top 10 lists of Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent's must-sees, including Antwerp Cathedral, The Grand Palace, and The Burg Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent's most interesting areas, with the best places for sightseeing, food and drink, and shopping Themed lists, including the best outdoor activities, historical sites, art galleries, Belgian beer, and much more Easy-to-follow itineraries, perfect for a day trip, a weekend, or a week A laminated pull-out map of Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent, plus five full-color area maps DK Eyewitness Top 10s have been helping travelers to make the most of their breaks since 2002. Looking for more on Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent's culture, history, and attractions? Try our DK Eyewitness Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp.